Act 5 | NASB1995 | STEP | But a man named Ananias , with his wife Sapphira , sold a piece of property ,

Acts 5

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and ^akept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s ^{▼▼ Or collusion}full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^claid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^dSatan filled your heart to lie ^eto the Holy Spirit and to ^fkeep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^{▼▼ Or in your authority}under your control? Why is it that you have ^{▼▼ Lit placed}conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ⁱto God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias ^jfell down and breathed his last; and ^kgreat fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and ^lcovered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land ^{▼▼ Lit for so much
,} ⁿfor such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, ^{▼▼ Lit for so much}that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^pput ^qthe Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she ^rfell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And ^sgreat fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

12 ^{▼▼ Lit Through}At the hands of the apostles many ^usigns and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in ^vSolomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^wthe people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more ^xbelievers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly ^yadded to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by ^zat least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the ^{▼▼ Lit multitude}people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick ^{▼▼ Lit and}or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is ^acthe sect of ^adthe Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and ^aeput them in a public jail. 19 But during the night ^afan angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 “Go, stand and ^{▼▼ Or continue to speak}speak to the people in the temple ^{▼▼ Lit all the words
,} ^aithe whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple ^ajabout daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^akthe high priest and his associates came, they called ^althe ^{▼▼ Or Sanhedrin}Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. 22 But ^anthe officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, 23 saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.” 24 Now when ^aothe captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^{▼▼ Lit this would become}would come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then ^aqthe captain went along with ^arthe officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^asthey were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

27 When they had brought them, they stood them ^{▼▼ Lit in}before ^authe Council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you ^avstrict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ^{▼▼ Lit behold}yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^axintend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, ^ay“We must obey God rather than men. 30 ^az“The God of our fathers ^baraised up Jesus, ^{▼▼ Or on whom you had laid violent hands}whom you had ^bcput to death by hanging Him on a ^{▼▼ Lit wood}cross. 31 ^be“He is the one whom God exalted ^{▼▼ Or by}to His right hand as a ^{▼▼ Or Leader
,} ^bhPrince and a ^biSavior, to grant ^bjrepentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 “And we are ^bkwitnesses ^{▼▼ One early ms adds in Him}of these things; and ^bm so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

33 But when they heard this, they were ^bncut ^{▼▼ Or in their hearts}to the quick and intended to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named ^bpGamaliel, a ^bqteacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^brthe Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 “For some time ago Theudas rose up, ^bsclaiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. ^{▼▼ Lit Who was killed}But he was killed, and all who ^{▼▼ Lit were obeying}followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 “After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of ^bvthe census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who ^{▼▼ Lit were obeying}followed him were scattered. 38 “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or ^{▼▼ Or work}action ^byis of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^bzfighting against God.”

40 They ^{▼▼ Lit were persuaded by him}took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^cbflogged them and ordered them not to ^{▼▼ Lit be speaking}speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the ^{▼▼ Or Sanhedrin
,} ^ceCouncil, ^cfrejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^cgfor His name. 42 ^chAnd every day, in the temple and ^{▼▼ Or in the various private homes}from house to house, they ^{▼▼ Lit were not ceasing to}kept right on teaching and ^{▼▼ Lit telling the good news of
,} ^clpreaching Jesus as the ^{▼▼ I.e. Messiah}Christ.